A VA hospital barred a veteran’s service dog. After the vet’s suicide, it changed its policy
By Leila Barghouty
Friday, Sep 24
In the wake of a veteran’s death by suicide, a tragedy preceded by missed appointments due to the veteran’s service dog being denied entry to the VA hospital, the Department of Veterans Affairs Office of the Inspector General issued recommendations to two VA facilities to improve care for mental health patients.
One of those recommendations was to nix prohibitive service dog policies. Previously, the VA Palo Alto Healthcare System required service dogs to complete a health screening, be trained in three assistance tasks, and wear identification. But VHA’s policy does not permit facility staff to require health screenings or identification, according to the VAOIG’s report.
The report, published Sept. 23, details a case of an unidentified veteran’s death by suicide after receiving services through VA facilities in Portland, Oregon and Palo Alto, California. Though the report notes that staff made a reasonable effort to provide most aspects of mental health care to the patient, who was showing signs of suicidal ideation, it states that the facilities in question failed to meet some of the policies required by the Veterans Health Administration.
https://www.militarytimes.com/veterans/2021/09/24/a-va-hospital-barred-a-veterans-service-dog-after-the-vets-suicide-it-changed-its-policy/
